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‘Joan Cronan Day’ celebrated by Kiwanians

Many honors have been bestowed on University of Tennessee women’s athletic director emeritus Joan Cronan.

Another one came her way Friday at the noon meeting of the Columbia Kiwanis Club at the Memorial Day when Columbia mayor Dean Dickey proclaimed June 28th as “Joan Cronan Day” in Columbia.

Through her friendship with Waymon Hickman, a longtime Kiwanian and Senior Chairman of First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Cronan has visited Columbia many times but once again it was special for her.

Also it was special to the Kiwanis Club members and numerous guests. Many wore orange ties, orange shirts or orange hats. And in the case of local attorney Chaz Molder, it was also orange socks.

Cronan was well aware of Molder, recalling in 2004-05 when Molder was president of the student body at the University of Tennessee. Molder served in the same role at his high school alma mater — Columbia Central.

Cronan was advised of a couple of loyal Vanderbilt fans, who may have refrained from taking a big part in the song of the day “Rocky Top.” There may have another guest changing his words and tune to “Dynamite,” but for a couple of minutes “Rocky Top” was bouncing off the walls like a fall Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.

Speaking of Neyland Stadium, Cronan really believes athletic director Dave Hart hiring of former University of Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones is very significant.

“He (Jones) has great people skills and management skills,” said Cronan. “I think he is a great hire for our football program.”

Probably no person has understood what longtime Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summit has achieved on and off the court than Cronan, who had the task of replacing her.

“It was a no brainer,” said Cronan. “Holly Warlick understands better than anyone. She’s been there through it many years. She has a passion for the game. She has the love and respect from Pat Summit.”

Cronan also advised all fans of Coach Summit to watch the “Pat Summit XO” movie to be shown on ESPN on July 9.

“It is a wonderful tribute to Pat. It shows her intensity, her belief in doing things the right way,” said Cronan.

Cronan spent a few months as the interim athletic director for UT after Mike Hamilton resigned and before Hart was hired.

During that time she hired Dave Serrano as the head baseball coach. She feels that Serrano will bring the program back to the spotlight.

“I told him that I was going with him to the World Series,” said Cronan, who enticed Serrano away from Cal State-Fullerton.

Speaking of the College World Series, Cronan said that the fast-pitch softball College World Series has higher ratings than the baseball.

“I’m really proud of how much (coaches) Ralph and Karen Weekly have done for our program since I hired them (2001) from Chattanooga,” said Cronan. “I believe we will win a World Series.”

The Lady Vols have advanced to the World Series six times under the coaching of the Weekly’s.

Cronan said that the softball world series has outdrawn the college baseball world series in TV ratings and asked for a show of hands to see who watched the softball. The response was large.

Cronan is also high in praise of Cuonzo Martin, the men’s basketball coach.

“He’s a great person, a good coach and a good teacher. I think he will have a top 10 program.”

There has been a lot of advancements during Cronan’s 30 years at the University of Tennessee.

“We had seven sports when I came, now we have 11. We have added golf, softball, rowing and soccer. All are doing good.”

What has gone under the radar?

“It is the academics that our student/athletes have achieved. All of Pat’s players who stayed four years have graduated.”

Cronan said that Summitt didn’t want to hide her battle with dementia, but rather bring it out in the open.

“Pat said “I want to tell the team first, then I want to fight the disease. I want to make a difference.’ “

Cronan listed the first women’s national basketball championship (67-44 over Louisiana Tech in 1987 at Austin, Tex.) as a most memorable highlight.

If there was a low point that Cronan recalls, it came in 1990 when the Women’ Basketball Final Four was held in Knoxville, and The Lady Vols were upset by Virginia in the “elite eight.” But is also led to a special feeling, too.

“Of course we were disappointed when we didn’t get to play in it, but it was a signature moment to see 23,000 fans turnout at Thompson-Boling to support women’s basketball.”

— Cronan is on the NCAA committee working toward the 2014 Women’s Final Four in Nashville. She’s encouraged by the recommendations of postseason changes proposed by former WNBA commissioner Val Ackerman, who had been hired last November by the NCAA to asseess the needs for college women’s basketball.

“I like the return to a Friday/Sunday final weekend, and I like a return to a higher seed host,” Cronan said. “I’m not ready to say anything on the ‘white paper’ rules. I like staying close to the men’s game like we have.”

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